Release Date: April 04th 2025. Record Label: Rocket Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Death Hilarious - Tracklisting
1.Blockage 02:51
2.Detroit 05:39
3.Collider 03:27
4.Stitches 05:27
5.Glib Tongued (Featuring EL–P) 03:43
6.The Wyrm 07:04
7.Carousel 05:03
8.Coyote Call 03:52
9.Toecurler 08:27
Review
PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS (PigsX7) perhaps needed to fine tune their sound for their outlandish and superbly entertaining fifth album Death Hilarious. Stepping away from the aggressive sounds of their previous record Land Of Sleeper and returning to the more inventive sounds of their 2020 album Viscerals and in some ways their earlier albums such as Feed The Rats. Death Hilarious is PigsX7 aggressive and riff-fuelled record to date but still allowing themselves the creative freedom and experimentation they’ve delivered with previous albums.
There is a drone heavy appetite forming on tracks such as Blockage, Detroit and Collider which has loving glances to bands such as The Melvins, BORIS, TORCHE and Soundgarden when the mood becomes ever so grounded with screeching guitars and a classic GRUNGE attitude. Lead frontman Matt Baty’s vocals have an earnest and grounded approach to them with the off-kilter Post-Punk energy that resonates from his intense delivery and cynical delivery that accompanies the stripped back and amplifier distorted heavy instrumental melodies. There is a delicious and devious sense of fun with the grimy and pitch-black humour that appears at the right critical moment that allows PigsX7 to be quite cerebral and downright vicious with the THUGGISH and THRASH sounds that appear on later stages of the album.
There’s even a HIP-HOP inspired number called Glib Tongued featuring guest vocals from Hip-Hop Artist EL-P which on paper shouldn’t really work especially with the Doom Metal/Sludge Rock surroundings that PigsX7 bring to the party. However, this is the perfect match for both parties. As EL-P brings a sense of TRUE GRIT to this track and the spiky lyrics written by bassist John-Michael Hedley are some of the best on the entire record.
Death Hilarious has its fair share of Psychedelic sounds and Sonic beats that are spliced with such vitriol and fury especially when the band’s determined use of Noise Rock and Progressive based grooves on tracks The Wyrm, Carousel and Toecurler which are some of the other standout tracks on the record.
This is perhaps PigsX7 most mainstream sounding record to date though one that still has all the nasty trappings and seedy heaviness of the underground scene where the band first made their name with. This just confirms PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS place as one of the most vital and important Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal bands the UK has right now.
If you ever need a record that has the BALLS, BRAINS and COURAGE to be different and still offer a brutal and brilliant sense of realism then DEATH HILARIOUS is the record and it’s right up with Viscerals for being my favourite PigsX7 album. This is another ALBUM OF THE YEAR contender from the band and will no doubt be another massive success for the band.
They deserve all of the plaudits surely coming their way….
Words by Steve Howe
